The riptide sound might not work in Puppy. Depends if the HCF/HSF modem drivers include the drivers to make the sound work. (The riptide sound is part of the HCF or HSF modem card I think.) Sound cards that will work in Puppy can be had for less than $15, but since the riptide sound card put out a fair amount of power the speakers didn't need amplication, so you'll also have to get amplified speakers unless you use your hi-fi system or otherwise amplify the output of the sound card.

Other than the stupid one-of-a-kind combo modem/soundcard, Puppy works fine on my 5-year-old H-P Pavilion 8776c.